Illumination device for refrigerator and method of controlling the same

Abstract

Disclosed are an illumination device for a refrigerator and a method of controlling the same. The illumination device includes: a lamp assembly for irradiating light to the inside of a storage chamber of a refrigerator; a base plate mounted on a side within the storage chamber, the lamp assembly being provided on a side of the base plate; a watertight cover formed to enclose the lamp assembly so as to block the direct penetration of water into the lamp assembly; and a fastening means formed on a side of the base plate to surround the watertight cover so as to form a recess-prominence engagement with the watertight cover. Lamps provided in the lamp assembly are individually controlled through a manipulation panel mounted on the main body. If the refrigerator door is opened, the driving of the lamp assembly is stopped. In addition, the lamp assembly irradiates different colored lights depending on the kind of food.

1 . An illumination device for a refrigerator comprising:
 a main body forming the external appearance of a refrigerator, a storage chamber for storing stored products in the interior thereof being opened through one side of the main body;   a door for selectively shielding an opening of the storage chamber;   a lamp assembly mounted on the bottom surface of the door, the lamp assembly comprising a plurality of lamps, which are differently oriented from each other so as to irradiate light to the interior of the storage chamber; and   a manipulation panel mounted on a side of the main body, the manipulation panel is connected to a power circuit for the lamps so as to individually control the lamps.   
   
   
       2 . The illumination device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the lamps are mounted to be oppositely oriented with reference to the center of the lamp assembly. 
   
   
       3 . The illumination device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the lamps comprise:
 a first lamp mounted to be oriented to the front side of the storage chamber; and   a second lamp mounted to be oriented to the rear side of the storage chamber.   
   
   
       4 . The illumination device as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the manipulation panel comprises a plurality of buttons corresponding to the lamps, respectively, so as to individually control the lamps. 
   
   
       5 . The illumination device as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the buttons comprise:
 a first button connected to a power circuit for the first lamp so as to control the lighting of the first lamp; and   a second button connected to a power circuit for the second lamp so as to control the lighting of the second lamp.   
   
   
       6 . The illumination device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein each of the first button and the second button is a push button which renders a corresponding lamp to be turned on when it is pressed an odd number of times, and renders the corresponding lamp to be turned off when it is pressed an even number of times.